Dispenser package



5111) 30, 1,957 c. T. BUSCH 2,801,000

DISPENSER PACKAGE Filed July l0, 1956 United States Patent O l 2,801,000 DISPENSER PACKAGE Clarence T. Busch, deceased, late of Rankin, Pa., by Margaret Suhar Busch, administratrix, Rankin, Pa., assignor to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittshurgh, Pa.

Application `luly 10, 1956, Serial No. 597,036 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-56) This invention relates to packages for dispensing at objects such as adhesive bandages, tongue depressers, razor blades, `and the like.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide such a package that can be manufactured inexpensively and that can easily be assembled and used.

In accordance with this invention, a U-shaped holder for a stack of flat articles is disposed in a box. The holder has an end panel between parallel side members that tit against two opposite sides of the box and hold the end panel against a side of the box parallel to the panel. The side members are provided With a pair of opposed slots extending from the end panel to their outer edges. Extending through these slots and around the end panel is a resilient band. The band is expansible so that it can be stretched around a stack of the articles in the holder in order to urge them toward the end panel. At one end of the panel, the box is formed in such a way as to provide it with a dispensing opening, through which one of said articles at a time can be pulled edgewise out of the box.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the dispenser package after it has been opened for dispensing purposes;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the holder that normally is disposed inside of the box;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the box with the inner side of the holder removed; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the box showing one end of the holder.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the box 1 generally is formed from cardboard in any suitable manner and in a size and shape to accommodate the articles that it is to carry. The box has six sides, but to facilitate describing it, they will be referred to as sides 2 and 3, ends 4 and 5, and top 6 and bottom 7. Of course, it is immaterial as to which part of the box is uppermost. Near the top of one end 4 of the box and near the same end of the top of the box, the box is provided With rows of perforations 8 connected at their ends by inclined rows of perforations 9 so that a triangular corner portion 10 of the box can readily be torn loose or folded back as shown. This will expose one end of the stack of at articles contained in the box. Although these articles may take many different forms, for purposes of illustration individually wrapped adhesive bandages 11 are shown.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the stack of bandages is not loose inside the box, but is packed in a separate holder 13 which has been inserted in the box after being tilled. The holder is a U-shaped member, preferably made of a single sheet of cardboard which is bent along parallel lines to provide an end panel 14 between two parallel side panels 15. The end panel is about as wide as the box, and the side panels are substantially as tall as the box. Consequently, when the holder is inserted in the box, the side panels will t against the opposite side walls and will support the end panel against the top of the box. When the upper corner of the box is provided with a triangular dispensing opening, as shown in Fig. l, a corresponding corner of the holder is shaped to conform to the outline of the opening, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Each side of the holder is provided with a slot 16 extending from the end panel down to the Patented July 30, 1957 lower or outer edge of a side panel. The two slots are opposite each other and preferably are centrally located. As shown in Fig. 2, a rubber band 17 or the like extends around the end panel and through the slots. In its unstretched condition, the band ts fairly snugly around the end panel.

When it is desired to fill the box with adhesive bandages, a stack of them is placed against the inner surfaces of the end panel of the holder and is slipped lengthwise through the rubber band, which is held stretched open by the ngers at this time. When the stack of tapes is in correct position against the end panel 14, the rubber band is released and it then pulls the stack toward the end panel. The holder, with its side panels 15 now disposed against the opposite sides of the stack of tapes, is then inserted into the box through whatever side can be opened for that purpose. When the box is closed, the holder will be retained in it with the end panel of the holder substantially engaging the upper wall of the box.

In order to remove one or more tapes from the box, all that it is necessary to do is to pull off or turn back the perforated corner of the box to expose the ends of some of the tapes at the top of the stack. The top tape then can be pulled straight out of the box. As it leaves the box, the rubber band will contract and raise the stack in the holder so that the next succeeding tape will engage the lower surface of the end panel of the holder. Each successive tape can be removed from the box in the same way until it is empty. Although it is possible to refill the box by rst removing the empty holder and then inserting another stack of tapes in it, this particular package is intended primarily to be used only once as it is as cheap to do that as to rell it.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle of the invention has been explained and the best embodiment has been illustrated and described. However, it is desired to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specically illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser package for flat articles arranged in a stack, comprising a box, a U-shaped holder in the box for a stack of said articles, said holder having an end panel between parallel side members, said side members fitting against two opposite sides of the box and holding said end panel against a side of the box parallel to the panel, said side members being provided with a pair of opposed slots extending from the end panel to their outer edges, and a resilient band extending around said end panel and through said slots, the band being expansible to stretch around a stack of said articles in the holder to urge them toward the end panel, and the box at one end of said panel being formed to provide a dispensing opening through which one of said articles at a time can be pulled edgewise out of the box.

2. A dispenser package in accordance with claim 1, in which the corner of the box at said one end of the panel is provided with lines of perforations to permit said corner to be torn off easily in order to form said dispensing opening.

3. A dispenser package in accordance with claim 1, in which said holder side members are side panels integral with said end panel, and said slots are disposed centrally of said side panels.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS "ice 149,889 Smith Apr. 21, 1874 1,656,919 Marsh Ian. 21, 1928 1,806,905 Kampfman May 26, 1931 2,347,021 Auerbach Apr. 18, 1944 

